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Thursday, 2 February 2017

How much money is enough?

The short answer is there is never enough money. Enough is okay, too much is better. So for #Lifethisweek I want to tell a little story.

This story was told to me by a tuktuk driver, and deviates a little from the version on the website, but I like my version better, so that is what I'll share. In Siem Reap there are regular music concerts held to raise money for the running of a hospital. It started when a Swiss man, who fell in love with Cambodia decided he wanted to build a hospital. The government said 'We can give you the land but we can't give you the money. If you can raise the money, you can build the hospital'. So he asked around, begged bankers and businessmen and held concerts. He raised the money and built the hospital. The real story is even greater than that, as there are five hospitals, helping 13 million outpatients over twenty three years, and saving three thousand children a month who would otherwise die without this access to free medical care. If you are in Cambodia (or occasionally Switzerland), please attend a concert, and know your dollars are doing some good. Nowadays, 3% is donated from the Cambodian Government, 4% from the Swiss Government and a whopping 92% of running costs come from private donation. If interested in donating, click here.

As amazing as this is, it is not unique. A similar tale was repeated when a Japanese Photographer was moved to help the children of Cambodia and set up Friends Without A Border which in 1999 opened Angkor Hospital for Children (run by and for Cambodians) and more recently in 2015 opened the Lao Friends Hospital for Children. You can fundraise, donate, send supplies, 'adopt a patient', give a gift to an inpatient or buy gifts to help support the FWAB.

I've spoken before of Aki Ra and his continual work clearing landmines, and the byproduct of this work, housing and caring for children, creating the Relief Centre housed with the Landmine Museum. Last year a Farm Project was also created. All run on donations.

These people thought of the project and didn't baulk at the dollar signs. Their determination was enough.

So in answer to the question, how much money is enough? However much you need.

Please note I have no affiliation with these charities. I just like them.

What a lovely story. My friend set up her own charity Rainbows for Children, to fund schools for children in Bali after the Bali Bombings. She just invested her own money and bought school essentials. She is an inspiration in showing that humanity can be good and loving. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond.

People can be SO generous. The post I've not written for today talked a bit about our habit of comparing ourselves to those with more, but rarely comparing ourselves to those with less... particularly people from developing countries.

I whinge and stress a lot about money but spent a chunk of my life working in international development so should know better!

Amazing. The size of people's hearts really does continuously amaze me - many will give so much to help those in need. Such a good reminder on how beautiful this world really is. Thanks for sharing <3 #KCACOLS

I love your post. It is really about how much you really need. And I love the perspective of sharing with others as well. Oftentimes, we feel like money is not enough when we look at what's lacking in our lives. But if we see the poverty around us, especially in 3rd world countries, we would realise that we really have enough and even have extra to share, even if it's just our time, passion, and service. xx

I love stories like this. Being rich isn't about how much money you have in the bank, it's about how you use it to live a life with meaning, and in the ways that you can use it to add value to the lives of others.

I love the focus of this, it is nice to read about such amazing successes and achievements of people and how you can make a difference if you put your mind to it. It is good to teach your children about it to, to teach kindness, generosity and determination! What an enlightening post. Thank you for linking to #KCACOLS we hope to see you next week x

Hmmm interesting question. I hate money. Everything comes down to it lately. There are some mega greedy governments and corporations which are really peeing me off. Nsw state government and a bus charter company this week.In saying that there are also some incredibly generous and giving people out there too.